Whatever intoxicates in large amounts, its small amount is forbidden

Arabic text

عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ رَضيَ اللهُ عنهُما قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «مَا أَسْكَرَ كَثِيرُهُ فَقَلِيلُهُ حَرَامٌ».

Translation

Jābir ibn ‘Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him and his father) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Whatever intoxicates in large amounts, its small amount is forbidden."

Explanation

The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) clarified that any drink or food that causes the loss of control over mental faculties when consumed in large quantities, then consuming a small amount of it is forbidden, even if it does not cloud the mind.

Benefits

• The Shariah protects people's minds.
• Validity of blocking the means to evil by blocking all ways that lead to such evils.
• The prohibition of a small amount of intoxicants, because it is a means to intoxication.
• If it does not intoxicate, neither in small nor large amounts, then it is not forbidden.

Topics

• Jurisprudence and Juristic Principles
• Foods and Drinks
• Forbidden Drinks